The Art Of Sword

Sunz made his way out of that Section of the Floor and was able to find the Floor map in the lobby. After a minute of looking at the map, Sunz found where the food court was and at the same time.

Familiar voice: This is where we stop, have fun, and don’t cause any trouble.

Sunz turned around and saw that it was Yama and Glasses-bodyguard.

Glasses-bodyguard notices Sunz and then tells Yama: Your friend is here too.

The Glasses-bodyguard leaves and Sunz approaches Yama.

Sunz: Why was he with you?

Yama: Complicated stuff happened…

Sunz: Was the complicated stuff involved using your handsome look to pull her (pointing at the Penguin Girl)?

Yama: Well…

Before Yama could say anything, W steps in front of him and delivers a nasty punch at Sunz’s stomach.

Sunz tried his best to endure the pain but it wasn’t enough to help him stand on his two feet. Yama quickly catches Sunz and uses his body to help Sunz stand, during that moment W quickly skedaddles out of their sight.

Sunz having his head over Yama’s shoulder saw W's amazing escape and also noticed a piece of note on the ground with this text.

*DON’T CALL HIM HANDSOME!*

Sunz (ok?)

Yama pulls Sunz away from his body and asks “You Ok?”

Sunz can only shake his head in response.

Yama holds Sunz up with one hand and tells him “This is going to hurt a lot but you’ll be better in a minute.” Then strikes his palm at Sunz's chest.

Sunz:…

Yama (???) (No reaction)

30 seconds later

Sunz: Uh, what happened?

Yama: Can you stand?

Sunz: Yeah… I think I can.

Yama removes his hand from Sunz and waits a few seconds before speaking up,

Yama: Sorry about what just happened.

Sunz: You might want to pick up that note on the floor.

Yama (Oh no what did she write?) picks up the note and reads it… (She didn’t need to vent my anger for me.)

Sunz: We can discuss that or not. But first, we need to regroup at the food court.

While walking with Yama to meet up at the food court, Sunz texts Jihu where everyone will be at, then says something to Yama.

Sunz: You think she’s a Yandere?

Yama: We are talking about her right?

Sunz: The one that just punched me? Yep.

Yama: I don’t know, probably not… But isn’t your girlfriend's behavior the same as hers?

Sunz: I haven’t accepted the fact that we are GF and BF yet, our relationship is weird. But I don’t think she is one… (Remember what happened yesterday). Nope, she definitely is one.

Yama: Are you afraid of that trait of her?

Sunz: Do you have another love interest and does your family dislike her? If both answers are ‘No’ then there is nothing to be afraid of.

“Also did you get anything from her to stay in touch?”

Yama: I did not.

Sunz:…

Yama: Don’t judge me like that! You see how often… I mean how fast she ran.

Sunz; I’ll ignore that. So how did you two meet and who talked first?

Yama: Shoudn’t you stay out of my business?

Sunz: Well, my gut got involved so I’m just looking for compensation.

Yama: Fine you win. How we met was random, and she was the one that approached first but she was a Mute.

(Give Sunz the paper with the letter W on it.)

“This was how she communicated and this is the only information I have about her. Her name is W.”

Sunz hands the paper back to Yama: That’s will be how much I’ll pry into, but I guarantee you’ll meet her again… not because you look for her but it’ll be her appears when you least expected.

Yama:… You think I’ll have a chance?

Sunz: That is your problem to solve.

Yama: Don’t you have any tips?

Sunz: If you are one of my classmates and know about my relationship with Grace. What will you ask? And try using your harshest words.

…

Yama: How can someone like you be able to pull a girlfriend that is so out of your league?

Sunz: You don’t! I don’t have the skill to pick up girls. I was the one that got picked up/adopted/kidnapped with force by that woman… So I just accept this new life now.

Yama: Isn’t that answer a bit much? Aren’t you underselling yourself a bit? Maybe she saw something that you can’t.

Sunz: If she saw something that must mean I’m blind because I don’t see anything significant in myself.

“I’ve only lived in this new world for about a month and before this, my life was pretty normal and boring. So all of these events and relationships still feel weird to me.”

Yama: Weird… like in everything is new to you.

Sunz: No, weird in everything happens so unexpectedly.

“We will have to end the conversation here. I don’t know what am I even talking about anymore. Plus we have arrived and there is our group.”

*Somehow Jihu arrived there before Sunz and Yama*

Sunz nudges Yama: Also don’t tell Grace about this conversation. If she knew that I degraded myself, she probably going to do something bad to me.

Yama: As long as you don’t mention the Penguin Girl.

Sunz: Deal!

*Sunz and Yama sit down where the rest of the group are. Everyone exchanges conversation about what they all did during the split-off while Jihu orders the food for the group.*

Sunz: So everyone got to fight the Shadow-Monarch/Demon-King of their section, except for me.

Grace: Technically, I got chosen to compete while No-Name cheered me on.

Jihu: Mine was just a gunslinging duel. And Yama was apparently a Dance Battle?

Yama: I don’t remember most of what I did there, because the Monarch was very captivating.

Grace: Our fight against them was pretty tame, most of them aren’t even fight. But in your section, the Challenger fainted?

Sunz: Apparently, during their fight, I don’t know what was going on except for the fighting game noises.

Jihu: Our food is ready, I’ll go get them. Yama help me out!

Yama: Ok

…

Grace: So this Challenger was the person we saw in the lobby?

Sunz: Yeah…he was…

“No-Name, can I borrow Grace for a bit?”

No Name: Sure, I’m not her boss.

Sunz “Thank you.” Then immediately grab Grace’s arm and drag her out of everyone's sight.

Jihu and Yama return with the food.

Jihu: Where are the other two?

No Name: Don’t know, Sunz drag her to some place… You think they are…

Jihu: Nah, he doesn’t have the gut for it. Probably going to ask Grace something and that will be all. But Grace might be the one making moves.

Yama: If he doesn’t come back soon, can I have his portion?

Jihu: Sure, why not.

…

*Sunz has dragged Grace to a random secluded place on the floor*

Grace (hehe! You finally have the courage?!)

Sunz: OK, now that we are alone. First I would like to apologize for dragging you to this random place, and second I'm not doing any romantic/erotic thing that is on your mind right now.

Grace: Whaaat? Are you talking about? My mind is perfectly clean, I’m not expecting anything.

Sunz: Your facial expression gave it away. It was the same dominant, eager expression that you showed me when you wore that suit.

Grace: I’ll get you back for ruining my mood… How did you remember that expression?

Sunz: A mix of different emotions that form a core memory.

Grace: Well, all of my expressions had always been calm and collective, sometimes even cold, but never dominant, eager.

Sunz: Had that expression ever appeared before that event?

Grace:…*slight blush* Shut up! Let’s finish our business here and go back.

Sunz: OK then. Do you remember the guy that fainted at my section?

Grace: Yeah…

Sunz: Apparently he knows you from work.

Grace: And by work, you mean ‘Hero’ right?

Sunz: Yeah… Am I prying in too much?

Grace: You dragged me out here, you better finish what you started… Are you afraid of me two-timing you?

Sunz: No, if I think about that. It means I’m degrading myself, thinking that I’m not enough for you, which you are sick of hearing and will result in you hurting me.

Grace “Good answer.” has her arm up slightly with the dorsal side of the hand covering her mouth like an evil rich lady, for a brief moment before she breaks character.

“Hahaha, you are so easy to break…we are slowly getting to know each other better.”

Sunz: I did not expect this. Different relationships must have different ways to grow.

Grace: They sure do and I’m enjoying this a lot… But you are right I don’t like hearing you degrading yourself.

*Has both of her arm on Sunz’s shoulders and stare him dead in the eyes*

“I won’t hurt you if I heard it because I have other ways to deal with you without being physical.”

…

Grace removes her arms from Sunz: That was a quick therapy session. But that probably wasn’t what you planned on asking.

Sunz: Uh hmp, yeah. So back to the beginning, the guy I mentioned before said that one person in our group is familiar to him. And since he is working with a ‘Hero’ that means you are the familiar face.

“Which makes me wonder, are you a high-rank Hero?”

After saying that, the air around Sunz suddenly becomes extremely cold.

Sunz (Did I say something wrong?) tried keeping eye contact with Grace, but her eyes had become soulless, along with her voice.

“You’ll take this to your grave.”

Grace motions her arm up and her hand (middle finger and thumb) forms a flicking gesture at Sunz. Slowly a sharp icicle forms between the two fingers.

…

Sunz: OK, things are escalating so out of the blue. If you kill me how will you escape?

Grace: That is my problem.

Sunz (dialogue, dialogue, dialogue…): What is your reason for this? I have no value...

Grace: And you never will! Stop self-pitying.

She flings the icicle at Sunz after finishing her sentence. Sunz didn’t do anything to dodge her attack at all, except for closing his eyes.

Sunz (This is not what I expected. My body is extremely cold, I can’t feel my limb… but I can still smell blood?)

(Shouldn’t I already be dead? What is that sound?)

Sunz heard a soft and frantic voice “Hey Hey! Are you ok? I hope I’m not too late! Why is your body so cold?! Come on come on don’t die!”

Sunz “Am I still alive” slowly opens his eyes, and the first thing he notices is that he is on the floor. The second thing is these is someone checking his heart with their head on his chest(still clothes).

Frantic person lifts their head from Sunz: Oh you’re still alive. Thank goodness. Are you conscious enough to talk and see me clearly?

Sunz: I think I can.

Frantic person: Describe me the person in front of you.

Sunz: Female… I guess.

Frantic person: It’s Female! Talk faster!

Sunz: Blond. Glasses. White outfit. Oh God, there is blood covering your whole arm.

Frantic Female: Great you are in a stable enough condition, still way too cold tho. Now try to read this while I look for some bandage.

She places a thin rectangle-shaped thing in Sunz’s hand.

Sunz was finally able to move his body but decided to only move the arm that had the rectangle thing close to his face.

What is in his hand right now looks like the Frantic Female ID.

“Blond, Glasses, different outfit.”

(Rank A- Name: Patinage Grace)

Frantic Female: Why did you suddenly go so quiet? Where are the bandages?

Sunz: What is going on… Why do you both have the same name?

Frantic Female stop looking for bandages: Because…

An icicle appeared above Sunz's face and launched at him.

Sunz (Not again.) this time he just stared straight at it without closing his eyes.

As the icicle gets closer to his face, *Snap* it explodes into many sparkle snow.

Frantic Female: I was messing with you!

Sunz:…What?

Frantic Female: Let's get you off the floor first!

When the Frantic Female grabs Sunz’s arm and pulls him up, his body temperature returns to normal.

Sunz holds her ID up to compare the picture with the real-life figure.

Sunz: Name, hair color, and I feel less cold after you touch me are her traits. Which leave me one question, WHYYYYYY?!

Frantic Female: Because…

She interrupts her sentence by pulling Sunz in front of her and crouches a bit behind him.

Then someone in police uniform walks by, sees Sunz, and Frantic Female hiding behind him: Sorry for interrupting… You two had 15 minutes to finish what was going on.

Then the person left, and for the first 10 seconds, Sunz’s mouth was covered by the Frantic-Female’s hand.

Frantic Female: He walks far enough from us…*adjust both of them to their previous position*…Now where was I… You asked my Hero Rank and at that moment I decided to do a dramatic reveal.

“But you just have to close your eyes.”

She does the same action that Grace did, summons an icicle, launches it at Sunz then it explodes into sparkle snow.

“I decided to improve my ability a bit after yesterday's mess. After that whole charade of me turning into a cold psychopath, I was going to show you my card.”

Sunz: OK, so you really are Grace,…Why did you turn that arm into such a bloody mess?

Grace: Ehhh…improvisation! Also, it's not even that bad, just a bunch of cuts that’s all. Plus I already dry up all of the blood while some stick to this outfit so I’m not leaving any traces here.

Sunz: So how did we go from you “killing” me to your “identical twin” saving me?

Grace: You close your eyes a bit too long and your body actually goes limp due to my ability. Luckily I caught you just in time but at that same time, my brain also decided to go with the flow.

Sunz: By going with the flow you mean…

Grace: Escalate this moment to the most unrealistic while still making sense. So it will look like you were saved by a maiden that got injured in that process. A maiden that hides her skill behind her extremely frantic personality.

Sunz looks at the card and then looks back at Grace and her wound.

*Sigh* “All of this mess was caused by me asking a stupid question.”

Grace: You know what stupid! How hard it is to shoot icicles at this arm(bloody one) while making sure no blood splats on the floor, and at the same time making sure you don’t open your eyes and see me pew pew my arm!

Sunz: Your voice doesn’t sound angry, more like annoyance mixed with excitement.

Grace: Looks like all of that time I screamed at you finally paid off!

“You have always been the one to make a move on me, whether it is unintentional or not. I know that our relationship is a bit one-sided since I was the one who initiated it. Since that day, all of the events that happened between us have only increased my feelings for you.”

“I know that you’re still indecisive about this, so it’s my turn to balance the scale. Since everything has been resolved, please focus on that ID and Me.”

Sunz: I don’t know what you trying to do but I’ll give it a go.

Sunz switches his focus between Grace and her ID for one minute.

“I don’t see what you… mean… Oh no…”

Grace: Finally I break you.

She gets closer with her hand on his chest and whispers in his ear (You like Glasses!)

…

They stay in that position for about 10 seconds then Grace steps back.

Grace: Wow, your heart never beats that fast, even faster than mine!

Sunz: I think I prefer you with glasses. Does that make me sound like an asshole?

Grace: I don’t care, because I can use it as a weapon.

Grace takes off her glasses, it immediately turns into a bracelet attached to her wrist.

Sunz: With glasses on you look less intimidating.

Grace: I assure you that I’m still intimidating with or without them.

Sunz: You really ruin my image of you with that.

Grace: With different attire and accessory. This is just the beginning, leave room for a lot more to come. Right now we need to get back.

Sunz: How? Your arm is not something to show in public.

Grace: Good point. Give me your ‘Windbreaker’!

Sunz:…

Grace: Did you really just take a moment to think about that?

Sunz takes off his ‘Windbreaker’ and gives it to Grace, “Please be careful with it.”

Grace puts on the ‘Windbreaker’ “Do you really care more about this than me?” after putting it on Grace feels something strange

“Aren’t your body supposed to be smaller than mine?”

Sunz: Yeah?

Grace: Then why does it fit me?

Sunz: Probably because I buy it a size bigger than I should.

Grace: When did buy it?

Sunz: 2 years ago.

Grace: Did you even grow at all?

Sunz: Not really.

Grace: That’s good to hear, don’t want you to be taller than me.

Sunz: Yeah yeah… Didn’t you carry a bag?

Grace: Don’t be silly, my hands are already occupied with yours.

Sunz: Really...

Grace: What, don’t like it?

Sunz: Not that, during the moment you were looking for bandages in your bag, I remember hearing shuffling sound.

Grace: There were no bags or bandages, just there.

She shows Sunz her empty palms slowly being filled up with snow then she just slaps both of them together to make sound.

Sunz: Really, that was what I heard.

Grace: Yeah, creative right!

Grace then grabs Sunz's hand and walks out of wherever they are.

The Officer from before saw that they finally left and said to himself (Kid these days are so bold.)

Then he heard a female voice from his communication device (Eun Eun, danger code Purple. Two Hero Down)

Using the same device he sent a message

“This is Officer #### block off every road that leads to The Dungeon and evacuate everyone within the area.”